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Io busso alla porta per chiamare il medico.

Io busso alla porta per chiamare il medico.
I knock on the door to call the doctor.
FromLesson 15inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of Io busso alla porta per chiamare il medico.

io
I
la porta
the door
per
for
a
at
il medico
the doctor
chiamare
to call
bussare
to knock

Questions & Answers about Io busso alla porta per chiamare il medico.

What does the verb busso mean, and which verb is it derived from?
Busso comes from the Italian verb bussare, which means to knock. In this sentence, busso is the first person singular present tense, so it translates to "I knock."
Why is the subject pronoun Io included, even though the verb conjugation already indicates the subject?
In Italian, subject pronouns are often dropped because the verb form makes it clear who is acting. Including Io can add emphasis or clarity, especially when you want to stress that I am performing the action.
What does the contraction alla represent in alla porta?
Alla is a contraction of a (meaning to or at) and la (the feminine definite article the). Thus, alla porta means "at the door," specifying where the action of knocking takes place.
What is the role of the preposition per before chiamare il medico?
The preposition per indicates purpose or intention. In this sentence, per chiamare il medico translates as "to call the doctor" or "in order to call the doctor," explaining the reason behind the action of knocking.
Why is the definite article il used before medico, rather than an indefinite article?
Using the definite article il before medico implies that the speaker is referring to a specific doctor, likely one known or expected in the context. In Italian, a definite article is used when speaking of a particular individual, whereas an indefinite article would suggest any doctor in general.
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